Latest news with #BenSugarman
CBS News
19-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Philadelphia crews hit snag repairing 2-month-old sinkhole in Point Breeze
Frustration is growing over a sinkhole that's been plaguing a neighborhood in Philadelphia's Point Breeze neighborhood for almost two months. The gaping hole in the ground is being covered with plywood on Sigel Street near South 20th Street. Not only is it an eyesore, it's a safety hazard disrupting life for nearby residents. "It's just frustrating," Ben Sugarman, from Point Breeze, said. "Deliveries can't come through because it's all blocked off. Kids are still playing around it and one board moves, you know, who knows what can happen." The sinkhole emerged in late April after a six-inch water main broke. While the main was repaired within a day, the city admitted there was a delay in fixing the sinkhole because of a miscommunication. No maintenance order was created after initial repairs were made, officials said. "I just think we got forgotten again," Paul McGannon, from Point Breeze, said. "That's what it seems like. They admitted before there was a miscommunication, so what's going on now?" CBS News Philadelphia has learned crews have encountered a setback. The Philadelphia Water Department said in a statement: "We are currently waiting for repairs to be made on two private sewer laterals damaged in the sinkhole. That work is scheduled for June 24. Once the repairs are made and the homes are reconnected to the City system, the excavation site will be filled in, and we will request that the Streets Department restore the roadway. We hope to have the street reopened as soon as possible and appreciate the patience of residents on the block." In the meantime, residents continue to wait. "The city is definitely taking a while," Michael Werwinski, from Point Breeze, said. "It's definitely tough at the end of the day for getting a parking spot on the street."
CBS News
02-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
A sinkhole opened up in South Philadelphia more than 1 month ago. Residents are still waiting on repairs.
Drivers are navigating around a road closure after a sinkhole opened up in Philadelphia's Point Breeze neighborhood. Barricades are up to keep people from driving over the sinkhole, which is covered with plywood on Sigel Street near South 20th Street. People who live in the area said they have been waiting more than a month for repairs. "Our whole neighborhood, our whole block is really frustrated because the city is not coming out to take the next steps they need to take to fix the sinkhole," Paul McGannon, from Point Breeze, said. The Philadelphia Water Department said it's unclear what caused the road to cave in, but there was a water main break on that block on April 27. Drivers are navigating around a road closure after a sinkhole opened up in Philadelphia's Point Breeze neighborhood. CBS News Philadelphia McGannon said his basement has flooded twice since the sinkhole opened up, and the first time was with raw sewage. "We don't know if it's going to happen again, so every time it rains seems to be the trigger," McGannon said. Aside from the sewer issues, residents said the sinkhole also poses a safety hazard. "There's a few boards there, but if you're messing around, don't really see it if the boards move at all, you're falling six, ten feet in," Ben Sugarman, from Point Breeze, said. The water department said it is sending investigators back to the neighborhood on Tuesday to learn more about the situation.
